Car feeder



Jap. 7, 1930. G. N slMPsoN CAR FEEDER Filed Feb. 13, 19279 5 Sheets-Sheet O um G. N. SIMPSON CAR FEEDER 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 15, 1929 j?? @We h., l w w, m

x hw w www L I www @n T N f/ "il w i m I E 1 m e.\\

G. N. SIMPSON Jan. 7, 1930.

CAR FEEDER l5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1929 Patented Jan. Y7, 1930 mara PATENT omer GEORGE N. SIMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CAR FEEDER Application `led. February 13; 1929. Serial No. 339,638.

This invention relates to improvements in car feeders and is here shown7 for example, embodied in a. device especially adapted for feeding mine cars. For example, the feeder may be used for feeding such cars into a tipple or car dumper. Any suitable means,

for example, gravity, may be used for nioving the cars into position where they will be engaged by the car feeder.

One of the features of my invention is the provision of a rugged, simple and effective mechanism for accomplishing the purposes for which car feeders ofv this type are` intended.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of a carriage adapted to travel on rails consistingof standard I-bearns. Another feature of my invention is the making of a carriage having a separate, easilyV detachable unit carrying the spring-pressed dog. This unit also is unique in design and construction in that it carries the dog pivotally mounted therein and, also. the spring which presses said dog, said parts, especially the spring, being protected bv a dust cover forming an integral part ofthe unit referred to.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully asV I proceed with my specification.

1n that form of device cmbodyingthe features of my invention shown in the accomw panying drawings-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a yview taken as indicated by the line 3 of Figl; Fig. 4 is a view taken fas indicated by the line fief Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammaticview showing the-double thrown switch. n

s shown in the drawings .10 indicates, for example, a mine car provided with-the usual wheels 11 running on the rails 12. Numeral 13 indicates the axle between a pair of wheels 11. My improved feeder, hereinafter de scribed, is provided withl a yspringpressed don' adapted to engage one of the axles 13 between thewheels. It is obvious, however, that, without detracting from the spirit of my invention, the dog may be adapted to engage any other part of the car.

My improved car feeder comprises` in general, a carriage 14 provided'with the spring presseddog 15, here shown as bifurcated and provided with two prongs 15a, 15, the ends of which, as here shown, are adapted to engage the axle 13 of a mine carin order to feed the rsame forwardly as the carriagela is moved forwardly. v

The carriage 111 is arranged to travel on a pair of I -beams 16V parallelly arranged side by side and supported by suitable posts or standards for example as indicated by 17.

The Carriage 14C is provided at .its forward end with apair of rollers 18 mounted on the axle 19, said rollers operating between the upper and lower inner flanges 16a and 16b of the I-beams V16. -Near its forward end, the

carriage 14 is also provided with a pair of rollers 20, 20, mounted on the axle 21, said rollers 4lying under the I-beams 16. Near its rear end, the carriage 14 is also provided with a pair of rollers 22, 22 mounted on the axle v23, said rollers lying abovev the I-v beams 16.

The spring-'pressed dog 15 is pivotally mounted at 24 in a separate, detachable unit slidably mounted on the carriage let.V This unit includes a casting 25 open at the bottom and provided with adust cover 25a on top. This cast-ing is provided with a cylindrical extension at its rear end, indicated by 25"., said extension being surrounded by a spring 26 which urges the entire unit forward, the rea-r end of said sprin;0` 26 bearing against the vertical wall 27 of the carriage 14. The

forward vend of the casting'25 is provided. Y

with a` forwardly projecting ledge25C lying under the shelf 28 on the carriagelt.- Bach# ward slidinglmovement of the entire casting` 25 onthe carriage '141 against the pressure of the spring 26 is permitted whenthe ends 15" of the Vdog engage the car. yThe shock of engagement` is thus absorbed by the spring 26.. The rear end of the carriage 14 is provided with `a transverse pin 29 and a cover plate 30 the former serving to prevent A upward 'displacement of the rear end offthe Casting l 25 and the, latter operating as a dust cover for the spring' 26. In order to remove the entire unit consisting of the casting 25 with the -dog 15 and itsy spring 3l the pin 2,9Y and plate may be removed, thus permitting the entire unit to be lifted from the carriage, the rear end preferably being lifted out first to permit the projection 25c to clear the shelf 28.

rThe unit carrying the dog 15 also includes the telescopic members 32 and 33 surrounded by the spring 31, the forward endof said members bea-ring against the` end of the downwardly extending arm 15b carried by the dog 15, and the rear end bearing against the rear wall 25d of the casting 25. `When the casting 25 is lifted out of the carriage, as above described, the telescopic members 32 and 33 and the spring 31 will come with it. After the unit has been removed, however, the telescopic members 32 and 33 can be compressed, thus permitting their ready removal with the spring 31 out through the bottom of the castinos 25.

leans are provided for reciprocating the carriage 14 on the I-beam rails 16. Such means include a chain 34 having one end attached to the axle 19 at the forward end of the carriage 14 and the other end attached to a pin 35 at the rear end of the carriage 14. The chain at the front of the device is passed around a driving sprocket 36 and, at the rear, around an idler or tension sprocket 37. The driving sprocket 36 is mounted on a. shaft 38 adapted to be driven by a reversible electric motor 39 opera-ting through a speed reduction gear 40.

kMeans are provided for reciprocating the carriage 14. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner. For example, as here shown, the motor 39 is a `reversible motor, the field thereof being indicated by 39a and the armature byk39b, as shown in the diagrammatic view in Fig. 5. Current is adapted to be supplied from the line wires 41. Numeral 42 indicates a double throw switch adapted to reverse the current flow in the armature.

.i This switch is`carried by a rod 43 slidably mounted beside the apparatus and provided dog 15 projects upwardly `and forwardly so that in the forward travel of the carriage 14,

the ends '.15a will engage the axle 13 of the car. In the reverse' movement of thecarriage, the dog will be depressed by the axle against the pressure of the spring 31 and pass under theaxle of the car. Y

It is to be particularly noted that the spur or dog which engages the axle of the car is vforked,.and the ends spread apart, so that Vbe further noted that the I-beams 16 forming the tracks for the carriage are close enough `togetherto provide'generous clearance between the outside of said guides and the track rails 12. At the same time, the ends 15a of the spur or dog are separated so that they will engage the axles of a car near the bearlngs.

It is to be noted also that the shaft 24 on which the spur or dog is pivoted is relatively small, thus permitting easy rotation. In theforward movement of the carriage, in holding the dog, instead of providing some kind of clamp to hold the shaft against rota-V tion, the dog is provided with the downwardly extending arm 15b which engages the face 25d of the casting 25. This engagement prevents backward movement of the dog in the pushing operation.

In the construction shown, the small shaft 24 for use of the I-beams 16 with the rollers 18 operating betweenthe inner flanges thereof, permits a low clearance with the minimum of excavation and pit under the track at the same time giving a strong, rugged construction. This is a great improvement over the older forms of devices in which spurs were connected to chain links passing around sprockets. In such older devices, the'links had to be made long to prevent the overturning movement of the spurs, and such long links required large sprockets and deep pits. Such large sprockets also required slower rotation thereof, and consequently more costly speed reducing units. l

Vhile Ihaveshown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understoodthat it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction` and 'arrangement may bemade without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which itis my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible, in View of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1. In a ydevice of the character described; a carriage; a separate unit carrying a springpressed dog; means for slidably mounting said unit on said carriage; and a springurging Vsaid unit toward one end of the path of its sliding movement.

A 2.- A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said unit includes a casting with said dog pivotally mounted therein and a spring pressing said dog into operative position.

3. A. device as claimed in claim l, in which said 'unit includes a casting with said dog pivotally mounted therein and a spring pressing said dog into operative position, said casting havinga dust cover on top and being open at the bottom for the insertion and removal of said spring.

4. In combination with the rails of a track; guide members arranged between and below the rails of said track, with generous clearance between the outside thereof and said rails; a carriage mounted on said guide members; and a spring pressed dog carried by said carriage having spaced parts adapted to engage the axle of a car on said rails near its bearings.

5. In a device of the character described; a pair of parallel I beams lying side by side; and a carriage with a spring-pressed dog mounted on said I beams, said carriage being provided with a pair of rollers operating between the upper and lower inner flanges of said I beams, and with a roller in front lying under one of said I beams.

6. In a device of the character described; a pair of parallel I beams lying side by side; and a carriage with a spring-pressed dog mounted on said I beams, said carriage being provided with a pair of rollers operating between the upper and lower inner flanges of said I beams, and a roller in back lying above one of said I beams.

7. In a device of the character described; a pair of parallel I beams lyingside by side; and a carriage with a spring-pressed dog` mounted on said I beams, said carriage being provided with a pair of rollers operating between the upper and lower inner flanges of said I beams, with a roller in front, lying under one of said I beams and a roller in back lying above one of said I beams.

8. A device of the .character described including; a track; a carriage mounted on the track; and a spring-pressed dog or spur carried by the carriage and adapted to be removed therefrom without removing the carriage from the track.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand t is 1S day of January, 1929.

GEORGE N. SIMPSON. 

